Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-06
AUNTON SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER

years of age. He was Of the
same type exactly, but hardly 80 good
looking, though he had pleasant iace.-
He was a powerfully built young fellow,
wore his trousers in the tops of bis boots
and was roughly dressed. He was the son
of q farmer near Morehead, and had only
been married four or five weeks. He was
as bright and intelligent as Tolliver, but
much better educated. The latter knew
how to read, but his writing was not
model. jeff wrote an excellent hand, and
said he had been clerk in store IN ie1as
for year or two, having come home Dut
few months before. He was brought INTO
the feud by his brother, Alvin Bowling,
who was arrested for killing the marsnai OF
Mount Sterling, where John Martin wa: IN
confinement. Alvin had Joined the !oiliver
faction, and when he got into trouble JeH
left his bride to come to his brothers alo.
The elder Bowling had to be taken to Lex.
incton to prevent his rescue, but he was not
in SO lawless a coun try as Rowan when he
committed the crime, and he is now serv-
ing a twenty-one years sentences IN the
penitentiary.
JEFF Bowling seemed to have equal au-
therity with Tolliver, and was equally re-
spected by their adherents.
A TRUCE ARRANGED.
The next day after your correspondent
csming peace was patched up, ana DoSu
factions signed an agreement to obey the
law and do no more fighting. JEFF Bowling
was the first man to sign it. Their frlenos
left Morehead that evening, but hn ana
Craig remained till the next day, when
they rode off together, protesting to Dc
greatly satisfied with the turn affairs had
taken.
jeff Bowling was under arrest in Ohio
few months later for the murder of his ia
ther-in-law He was tried, convicted and
the day of execution was set, but he was re-
spited two or three times, and Governor
Foraker at last committed his sentence to
Imprisonment for life. There seems to be
some doubt of his guilt, and he has always
xehemently protested his innocence.
Tolliver was of numerous disposition
and much given to playing off practical
jokes. He would frighten timid strangers
by pretended careless handling of his weap-
ons. He took great delight in displaying
these, aud in addition to his Winchester,
carried three huge revolvers of 80 and A,
calibre. ALI we're of the latest and most
improved make. He also was very proud
of his strength, as has already been men.
toned. He was equally proud Of his pecu.
l
strong that they seemed to compose a solid
bone. He termed this his ''breastplate, u
and, declaring it was solid, said it would
turn a rifle ball. He received wounds time
and again which were thought to be fatal,
but he always recovered, and thought be
bore a charmed life. He once drank but
little, but is said to have been very intern
perate in the past few months.
| Tolliver always seemed well supplied
with money, and he did little work or none
at all. Still it is not believed by his neigh.
bors that he was dishonest, although he lay
in Jail for some time in Cincinnati on the
charge of horse stealing charge, by the
way, which was never proved. He owned
a farm in Morgan county, and at the time
kept a hotel there. In the last three
months be had been keeping the Central
| Hotel aud bar-room at Morehead. 1t il
charged that he forced Hiram Powers, the
owner, to rent the property to him. but the
rental, the latter states, was $3.50 yearly, q
liberal figure for the property. Before his
more lawless days Craig had been stock
trader aad dealer, and is said to have made
some money.
| DOMESTIC RELATIONS.
! He brought his wife and children from
Elliott ,uuty, where they had been living,
and they were at Morehead when he was
killed. He is said to have been kind an6
indulgent husband and father, and the
grief of his family was terrible. He had
three children, the Oldest boy ten years
of age.
The personal popularity of Tolliver and
Bowling is shown by the devotion witt
which m.n followed them to their death.
They had some good traits, and one of theil
chief vir'nes was devotion to friend, whom
they neve forgot. The evil that he die
was prob .bly exaggerated, and certainly
he and B,aling we're far more prepossessing
in appearance than Cook Humphreys anG
the Martins. Humphreys is an insignifi
cant look ng man, with an uneasy eye and
furtive l..,,k that creates an unfavorable i'm
preston.